Garden Tips – Page 2 – Wagon Hill Farm Community Garden

Hummingbird Migration

It’s time to put those hummingbird feeders out. The Ruby Throats have arrived in Rhode Island and Connecticut this week and will continue north as long as the weather is mild. Can’t wait to see them again! Ellen

Garden Prep

At our meeting last month, I mentioned that I would try to use pictures to illustrate different gardening techniques, so here goes. Let me know it you find it helpful. This week I laid black plastic around my Heritage Plot bed to keep the field grass from invading. I used this method several years agoContinue reading “Garden Prep”

The Joy of Spring Garden Maintenance

I broke my first ” garden sweat” of the season this morning. I went up to Wagon Hill to put the plastic covering over my hoops to start heating up the soil. I am hoping to get a little head start on some lettuce, spinach, kale etc. But, I discovered that the sod was veryContinue reading “The Joy of Spring Garden Maintenance”

What’s up Doc? Can you grow carrots (and other root vegetables) in a raised bed?

What’s up Doc? A question was asked about growing carrots in the raised beds. The short answer is “yes, you can grow carrots.” But a longer answer may help you better understand the garden. The raised beds are just frames placed onto the ground. So there is no “bottom” on the beds that would impedeContinue reading “What’s up Doc? Can you grow carrots (and other root vegetables) in a raised bed?”

Time to Reflect…

A note from Ellen about the end-of-season gardening recap: What will you do differently next year? Please let us know by commenting on this post! This is a good time to make some notes about what worked, what didn’t and what you might want to do next year. Believe me, it is a great ideaContinue reading “Time to Reflect…”

Disease Resistant Plant List Available on our Resources Page

Got pests? You might be inspired by this link: http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/factsheets/ecogardening/disresveg.html This is a list of disease resistant vegetable varieties that I thought would be very helpful to our gardeners planning for next season given the issues we’ve had. I will continue to research this and provide other links on our Resources page of the website.Continue reading “Disease Resistant Plant List Available on our Resources Page”

Ellen’s Gory Tip for Getting Rid of Tomato Hornworms

Both of these specimens (tomato hornworm and the moth it becomes) were collected from the tomatoes on my straw bale garden. Notice how the hornworm is happily chomping on the tomato leaves? These creatures are making their presence known in the garden now. You will know you have them on your tomatoes if you seeContinue reading “Ellen’s Gory Tip for Getting Rid of Tomato Hornworms”

Kay’s Garden Tip: Striped Cucumber Beetle

We’ve sighted striped cucumber beetles (they are yellow with black stripes) on squash plants in the heritage plots and a few in various raised beds. Here is a recipe for an organic spray you can make at home to deal with the beetles. You will need: A spray bottle 1 gallon jug 1 TBS ofContinue reading “Kay’s Garden Tip: Striped Cucumber Beetle”

Kay’s Tip for Gardening in Hot Weather

Gardeners are reminded that in this hot weather, raised beds dry out quickly. Water with a stream of water at the base of your plants, not by showering the whole plant, which contributes to powdery mildew. Please remember to turn the water off at the faucet and store the hose on the holder.

Lasagna Gardening: More Time, Less Toil

Lasagna Gardening is a low maintenance method of growing flowers and veggies is very effective at amending soil and conserving resources. For centuries, gardeners have practiced this method as a way to work with the Earth’s natural processes. Here’s how start a lasagna bed: Don’t till the soil! Add a layer of compost Sprinkle onContinue reading “Lasagna Gardening: More Time, Less Toil”